glands to trap dust and other floating matter, thereby keeping it out of the baby's lungs.

This process may increase the stuffy sounds of a newborn's breathing.

5. Babies are too young to snort or sniff. As a result, they are less able than older children to

clear their nasal passages. They can sneeze, of course, but this does little to relieve the

stuffiness parents notice.

6. Newborns are "obligate nose breathers." This means they can't breathe through their mouths in the first few months of life. Because babies have small nasal passages, they sound stuffy when they breathe. This is one of the reasons why you should never use drugs like Neosynephrine on newborns. Although the medicine will shrink the baby's nasal passages, when it wears off, the nasal passages may become more swollen than they were before the medicine was used. This can cause severe respiratory distress because the baby can't compensate for the "rebound" nasal congestion by breathing through her mouth.

Below are links to informational guides for

your reference:

William Beaumont Children's Hospital is a valuable resource for answering many common questions that parents may have. Please click on the links below for further information regarding Infant Development, Nutrition, Language Skills, Common Childhood Illnesses and more: